› added 10 years ago

91

TIL The human genome consists of DNA representing 800 MB of data. The parts that differentiate one person from another can be compressed to 4 MB.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

dDZv9 Til that the first windmill in California was built by the Russians in their colony in California
69MpZ TIL that whales evolved from Pakicetus, a land mammal roughly the size of a wolf or large dog.
d7Yr TIL a writer tested how hard it was for unknowns to get published by querying the National Book Award winning novel “Steps”. All thirteen agents and fourteen publishers rejected it, including Random House, which had published the book but didn’t recognize it.
P19Lg TIL of the 1958 book "The Rise of the Meritocracy," a sociological prediction of a 2033 future dystopia where social stratification develop on the claim that the top class is the most meritorious, and the bottom pacified in a belief that they're "dunces" not allowed to protest or engage in politics
l7W1B TIL that, when traveling overseas, Queen Elizabeth II did not need a passport. Since all passports were issued in her name, it was unnecessary for The Queen to possess one. All other members of the Royal Family, including The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales, have passports.